Snap the Alphabet
| August 31, 2016
Photo: Shutterstock
A
s you pack away your duffel bags and camp skirts wouldn’t it be nice if you had a piece of summer sunshine to last you through those long cold winter months? You’ve surely heard that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” How much would that thousand words add up to if you combined the two using pictures of nature to form words — or in other words Alphabet Photography or Letter Art?
Get Started
Start by photographing nature or everyday objects and zooming in on some part of it that forms the shape of a letter. For example the diagonal side of a swing set looks like an A; the branches of a small leafless tree might look like a T. Then arrange the developed photos to form artistic words.
Many artists photographers and kids love ABC photography because it lends a twist to their pics and art. ABC photography is all the rage now with lots of photographers selling unique gift items. Personalized of course. Letters are used to form names and sold as plaques tote bags mugs sweatshirts frames and metal and acrylic prints. And there are subspecialties within ABC photography each focusing on a specific theme like nature food historical architecture and landmarks or kids’ stuff. One artist specializes in photos of people bending and stretching to form letters. For those looking for a more general ABC photography gift have no fear. There are loads of options of cards framed gifts album covers and more with quotes or words such as friends love smile sisters or welcome.
And hey you don’t have to buy ready-made ABC photography gifts. You can do it all on your own. All you need is a camera and your imagination. In fact many camps had great alphabet photography activities this summer based on the DVD produced by Esther O. They started by watching the video which showed a camera zooming in to an image and then a letter popping up where it was found in the pic. Then they took their own photos developed them and made beautiful name plaques. With some creativity alphabet photography is a year-round activity.
Who is Esther O.?
Some of you may know Esther O. (Ottensoser) from CampBnoseinu where she ran the arts and crafts program for many years. Some of you may recognize her name from her food-styling and craft column in Family First. And some of you may have done her art projects in school camp or at a party whether you knew it was her project or not. Esther is an amazingly creative woman who absolutely loves thinking of original crafts foods table decor and party ideas — and sharing them with others.
A Work in Progress
The brainchild for the DVD was born in of all places an orthodontist’s office! Esther was sitting in the waiting room while one of her kids was getting fitted for braces. Looking around Esther noticed a plaque with each letter of the ABC taken in nature. What a cool concept she thought and promptly filed it somewhere in her brain. There it stayed until a trip to the park with daughters and nieces in tow. The children were getting tired of the slides and swings. They needed an activity if the trip was to last. So out came the ABC idea.
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